The sophomore catcher earned the honor Monday after going 7-for-9 with seven RBIs and four runs scored, including a home run, during a three-game sweep of Drexel this past weekend. ", "Our hearts are aching, hearing the news of the loss of one of our student-athletes," officials said "We are a tight family. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. JMU Nation is a close community, and we grieve together.". James Madison softball player Lauren Bernett, who helped the Dukes reach last year's Women's College World Series, has died at age 20. Mental health resources for student-athletes becoming priority at colleges, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Gunman Shoots Homeless Man Point Blank In The Head, Despite Being Locked Up for Megan Shooting, Suspended For Spitting On Drew Doughty In Game, 2023 EHM PRODUCTIONS,INC. Last month, the parents ofStanford Women's Soccer goalieKatie Meyerrevealed their daughter had died by suicide during an emotional interview withNBC'sTODAY Show. The school announced her death Tuesday, and the following day . Keep shining. We love you, Lauren, the JMU softball team said in a tweet on Tuesday. section: | slug: james-madison-university-softball-player-lauren-bernetts-death-classified-as-a-suicide-per-report | sport: other | route: article_single.us | ", "Our thoughts are with her family; her coaches, teammates and friends; the rest of our department staff and student-athletes; and the entire JMU community. Just a tragic loss.https://t.co/bWXNVwxyau pic.twitter.com/fWj1w5eOwS, JMU softball took the country by storm last year and Lauren Bernett played a huge part in that. James Madison University softball catcher Lauren Bernett is believed to have died of an apparent suicide, Rockingham County Sheriff Bryan Hutcheson announced Thursday via WJLA.com. The Odd Couple with Chris Broussard & Rob Parker, The Odd Couple w/ Chris Broussard & Rob Parker, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. We are grateful that Lauren has been part of our JMU Athletics community and will always consider her to be a Duke. "Her deep compassion was evident in her devotion to her sisters Abbey and Ella, the love her parents felt from her every single day, and the extra care she took in moments shared with her grandparents and cousins.. STAY UP-TO-DATE: Subscribe to our Sports newsletter now! She was an integral part of the James Madison team that made it to the 2021 Women's College World Series. James Madison president Jonathan Alber announced Bernett's death on Tuesday (April 26), just days after she was named as the Colonial Athletic Association's Player of the Week and months removed propelling the softball team to a Women's College World Series tournament appearance last season. Ill always remember her celebration to Odicci making the play., Catie Harper (@CatieHarper) April 26, 2022, We offer our deepest condolences to the Bernett family and the extended softball community that has been impacted. Bernett was a sophomore from McDonald, Pennsylvania. She was just 20 years. 6-keys: media/spln/other/reg/free/stories, at In their statement, Alger and Bourne called the 20-year-old a "key member" of the school's Women's College World Series team last year. The James Madison University softball team is mourning the death of their star catcher, Lauren Bernett. A day after pitcher Alissa Humphrey tweeted the news of Bernett's death "really hurts," the sophomore wrote about how her light continues to shine. James Madison softball was one of the most fun stories of the 2021 spring college sports season. We are grateful that Lauren has been part of our JMU Athletics community and will always consider her to be a Duke. The school announced her death Tuesday, and the following day Rockingham County Sheriff Bryan Hutcheson classified it as an apparent suicide,according to the Associated Press. Colin E. Braley/ap. The sophomore was just days removed from going 7-for-9, hitting a home run and seven RBI, as well as scoring four runs during James Madison's three-game sweep of Drexel over the weekend. As of the 2010 census, the population was 76,314. The team has canceled its Wednesday doubleheader against Longwood in wake of Bernetts death. No cause of death has been released. The announcement of Bernett's death came a day after the Colonial Athletic Association named her its Player of the Week. Jason Hahn is a Human Interest and Sports Reporter for PEOPLE. James Madison softball player Lauren Bernett has died, the school announced Tuesday. Bernett was a sophomore from McDonald, Pennsylvania. Click here to sign up to our newsletter for all the latest and breaking stories from Australia and around the world. The American college sports community has been left heartbroken by another tragedy, after news that James Madison University (JMU) softball star Lauren Bernett has died at the age of 20. We are a tight family. 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Four games, one against Virginia and three against Elon, were affected. Liberty, the host school, also painted Bernett's initials and number onto the field. Our goal is to create a safe and engaging place for users to connect over interests and passions. The school did not release a cause of death in its announcement. Lauren Bernett, a star player on James Madison University's softball team, has died at age 20. Lauren Bernettwas a high-achieving member of our softball team and a great ambassador of JMU and our athletics program. "We are a tight family. The Dukes then beat Oklahoma and Oklahoma State before losing back-to-back games to the Sooners in the WCWS. The release also announced the cancellation of JMU softball's Wednesday doubleheader against Longwood and offered several mental-health resources. She had just been named the Colonial Athletic Association's Player of the Week on Monday after a strong performance in a series against Drexel over the weekend. Yes! Bernett started 43 games as a freshman in 2021 and hit .235 with three homers and 10 RBIs. April 27 (UPI) -- James Madison softball catcher Lauren Bernett, who helped lead the university to a historic run to the Women's College World Series, died by apparent suicide, authorities said. A terrible reminder of life's unfairness. We will miss her dearly. "College athletics is great because of the people with whom we get to interact every day," a school statement said. "Our hearts are aching, hearing the news of . James Madison University is mourning the death of sophomore softball player Lauren Bernett, the school announced this week. / by Matt Weyrich. Last month, the parents of Stanford Women's Soccer goalie Katie Meyer revealed their daughter had died by suicide during an emotional interview with NBC's TODAY Show. Lauren Bernett was a JMU softball player known for being a standout in the program. You looked so good yesterday. By THECOUNT.COM "ALWAYS OPEN! Above all other things, Sarah was a power for good in the world. The Dukes' doubleheader on . ", LIVE NOW: 3 Men Convicted In Ahmaud Arbery Killing Learn Sentence, It's Official Twitter Confirms Elon Musk New Owner, Sam Bruce St. Thomas Aquinas HS Football Legend Found Dead At 24. She was 20. The Dukes won twogames in Oklahoma City before losing back-to-back games to the eventual champion Oklahoma in the semifinals. James Madison has canceled the remainder of its softball season following the death of catcher Lauren Bernett. She was 20. Odicci Alexander (@2seas__) April 26, 2022. Bernett, a sophomore, was a star catcher for the Dukes and had just had arguably her best week ever on the diamond for JMU, reports TMZ. Statement from President Alger and Jeff Bourne on the loss of one of our own: pic.twitter.com/A5JBuR5RUg, James Madison Athletics (@JMUSports) April 26, 2022. Days after the sports world learned about the passing of James Madison University softball player Lauren Bernett, a cause of death has been revealed. James Madison University softball player Lauren Bernett died by suicide, the Western Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Virginia said Thursday. Lauren Bernett has been named the conference Player of the Week after her impressive performance this weekend! https://t.co/QettsmChF0, Today, the JMU athletic community gathered to honor JMU softball's Lauren Bernett, who passed away yesterday.https://t.co/kY0hLvpMdH pic.twitter.com/mtT0DBNm5C, TheBreezeJMU (@TheBreezeJMU) April 27, 2022, Lauren Bernett will always be remembered by #JMUNation for her role on the @JMUSoftball WCWS team. Four of those hits went for extra bases. Lauren Bernettwas a high-achieving member of our softball team and a great ambassador of JMU and our athletics program. ", We love you, Lauren pic.twitter.com/WWt4lkm2gG. According to the medical examiner's. She was a key member of our 2021 Women's College World Series team as a freshman catcher last year," Alger said in a statement released toJMUSports.com. She was a key member of our 2021 Women's College World Series team as a freshman catcher last year," Alger said in a statement released to JMUSports.com. Bernett was 20. 22 hours ago, Lauren Bernett was named the CAA softball Player of the Week. The Western Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Virginia said Thursday that Bernett, 20, died by suicide. "We are a tight family. On Monday, the CAA handed her its Player of the Week award for her performances. Sarah was a beloved daughter, sister, granddaughter, friend, teammate and Badger student-athlete, the university said in a statement. Representatives for the Rockingham County Sheriff's Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment. My condolences to the @JMUSoftball program, the Bernett family and all Lauren's teammates and friends. 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